pressure washer, gas vs electric

[bobcatdan]

First off, I'm use to commercial grade steam cleaners so either will not meet what I'm use to. In the future I'd like to buy a 220v steam cleaner from say Northern, but not for a few years. For know I'm thinking a big box store cold water special, $400 on the extreme top end of the budgeted money. So let's say a mid range generac. I'd kinda like the idea of a 110v electric since it is one less engine to care about. It would be used for car and equipment washing. Not used a hell of a lot, but enough its nice to have one. Is an electric one worth a damn, or is the only way to get decent performance is to go gas. Where I'd use it, I'd be close enough given a reasonable length cord to plug directly to a wall outlet.

 

[olytdi]

I have an electric and it's useful for smaller or less intense jobs. I like the trade off because I only need it for around the house, it's small, easily setup, no maintenance, and cheap. I also try to limit the number of engines I have to maintain.

If you're going to do light work, they're great. If you need to pressure wash a 1500 square foot area, you'll need a more robust approach.

Like everything, a trade-off but perhaps the electric will fill a niche for you?

 

[jgorm]

I've had 2 electric ones, and now a gas one. It works so much better. If you want to spend 4x longer, get a electric one and do 1/4" at a time vs 1" with a decent gas one.

 

[jasond37]

Following; I'm curious too, I was going to post this very topic this morning. I've got things around the house and a camper, cars, etc. Curious what others think....my wife wants me to rent one but hell for $50-$100 more I can buy an electric one and have it.

 

[bobcatdan]

I will add, the most extreme thing I would be cleaning is undercarriages of tracked skidsteers and mini excavators. With heavy mud, the pressure washer would have it's work cut out for it. How often I have to do this is depending on how many undercarriage repairs come my way. Not against buying a gas unit in anyway, but if there are electric units that can do what I ask, I'd like that path better.

 

[Man Cave]

I owned a gas powered pressure washer when they first came available for home use. It worked well and I was careful on the maintenance and all requirements for storage when not in use. In spite of all that mine failed early in its life and the repair of the pump was costly. I'm sure they have improved since then. I borrowed an electric from a neighbor and it was OK for washing cars but if you wanted to get mud and other grime off a chassis it didn't cut it. I consider the pressure washer one of those tools you should buy once, cry once. Get the best you can afford.

 

[A_Pmech]

Electric pressure washers are made to at least 25HP, probably more. I'm sure somebody makes a 7.5 to 10HP single-phase version.

 

[LXCam]

I have both in a 2500. The gas kicks the electrics *** in pressure. But my electric is diesel heated so for grezzy stuff, it works much better. But it was also a couple grand, so not quit in the price range you wanted to spend .

 

[arz71]

I used a high dollar electric one and it was awesome super smooth and was super consistent and QUIET.

Really depends on what one has a budget for, I would almost prefer electric due to the fact I don't like the engines that put on the gas ones. I wished they made 2 STROKE pressure washers, lighter and so much easier to maintain!

 

[bobcatdan]

Thanks for the input so far. The hammacher schemmer looks interesting, any info on the company in general? More I think about, I'm going to making the runs to several small engine dealers. I recently bought a new Simplicity and other then the bloway price that I bit on, the dealer **** all around. I want to find another dealer to give my parts sales to. I will see if they carry any washer and their going price before going big box store.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The most important thing about pressure washers is VOLUME, not pressure.

Personally, I would not buy anything that was less than 2.0 GPM. For electric, that means 240V !

 

[Jason280]

I've yet to find an electric pressure washer that would last, and I've had experience with three different ones that the pumps went bad on. Of course, all three of these were Karcher, so I can't comment on others. I've had much more luck with gas models!

 

[LXCam]

I've had my landa for going on 15 years now (the electric one) without one single issue. But I would not buy one of those cheap electric units, I don't see them lasting very long.

 

[kctyphoon]

http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/

i wouldnt go electric unless you plan on buying something expensive, but if you want a cheap gas - i would try and find something with a honda motor. usually costoc or sams club has something like this around your budget.

if possible - you can cruise through that website and learn about the different style pumps available.. i have a john deere 3800 psi and the thing is amazing. went though 2 electric ones before finally getting a gas. what nice about the one i have is it will eject water of it starts to overheat, and the pressure is adjustable too. i dont remember what brand it was, but i believe HD sold something with a CAT pump which is the more deseriable triplex type i belive.

 

[motofool33]

i bought the ryobi electric one home depot has for 169 right now they have a nice warranty plan for them for cheap but 3 years exchange in store with no extra warranty was good enough for me. it does light jobs for me, blasting off the roof paint of my motohome, washing the vehicles, light compact and simple.

it doesn't have huge pressure but i didn't expect it to for 169$.

 

[kiatech]

Don't know about the quality of this but the price is good.
291374580182 (eBay)

 

[justme-]

First a 2 stroke engine is not suitable for a pressure washer application - pumps need low rpm and high torque, 2 stroke engines are almost universally high rpm low torque, while there have been some exceptions that's the standard aside from the fact that 2 strokes are higher in emissions, much more sensitive to fuel quality, and especially with the epa regulations for emissions they are very very sensitive to fueling/oil settings and mixes.

to the OP - steam cleaners and pressure washers are 2 different things. Steam is not a pressure cleaner nor is it measured in GPM...they are also not low cost or compact.
Northern sells hot water pressure washers (again, not steam) and I would heartily recommend staying as far away from them Northern's washers as humanly possible. They seem to have a very high failure rate under warranty, especially DOA. Just got another in the shop last week for warranty. They make HF look like Snapon!

 

[Mustang1167]

I just power washed my garage siding, house siding, sidewalks and driveway this weekend. 6 hours total. I used a the ryobi electric model. I was impressed for an electric power washer.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-1700-PSI-1-2-GPM-Electric-Pressure-Washer-RY14122/203800590

 

[Fusion13]

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/b...as-pressure-washer-0398581p.html#.VQYZNo7F_Rs

That's what I run, works very well just enough pressure for me around the house

 

[404]

I chose electric, 220V 5 HP 184TC frame motor. It is mounted in the basement ceiling next to a cellar window. So the pump is always inside, the hose goes out to do work and then comes back in. Got it from Northern maybe 20 years ago. Very handy to just do a quick small job and capable of big jobs. One less gas engine to maintain.

Always ready to go. Added a wireless remote control (ebay) so I can turn the pump motor on and off from outside. Would get it again.

 

[CJM8515]

Honda or subaru powered motor. Years ago I got one from home depot with a subaru motor. The only thing to ever break was the pump but we have hard minerals in our water and I left it in the shed one year where Im sure I left some water in there and it froze. 100 bucks for apump from northern no more issues.

I also have a small karcher electric, the electric is an annoyance to setup b/c you need to run a cord and although 1800psi it cant compare to a gas washer.

 

[91bronc300]

I chose electric, 220V 5 HP 184TC frame motor. It is mounted in the basement ceiling next to a cellar window. So the pump is always inside, the hose goes out to do work and then comes back in. Got it from Northern maybe 20 years ago. Very handy to just do a quick small job and capable of big jobs. One less gas engine to maintain.

Always ready to go. Added a wireless remote control (ebay) so I can turn the pump motor on and off from outside. Would get it again.

I'm guessing yours (or its contemporary) is this one. That would be my choice also.

 

[404]

I'm guessing yours (or its contemporary) is this one. That would be my choice also.

Yes it is down to the GFIC on the end of the cord. I did not think they made it any more. With just the pump and motor mounted in the ceiling rafters it is easy to change the pump oil as well.